Help Your Loved One with Alexa

The Amazon
Echo is showing up in more homes every day.
Since it responds to voice, it is a great addition to a seniors’ home as
it does not require a screen or any buttons to mess with and confuse people. Below
find some ideas on how this technology can help you and your loved one. Alexa
is always updating her still set, keep up with all the new she can do here.

Alexa, what is the
date? Alexa is very helpful in providing simple information on date, time,
weather, etc.

Alexa, remind me to
take my medication at 3pm: Alexa can remind your loved one when to take
their medicine, take a drink water, wake up, use the restroom, be ready by 5pm
on Friday to go to an event, etc. Several reminders can be set for any reason.

Alexa, remember I put
my keys in my dresser drawer: Asking Alexa to remember where things are
will alleviate many misplacements of items.

Alexa, put buy new
batteries on my to-do list: Create a daily to do list for your loved one to
keep them on task.

Alexa, what time does
Olive Garden open? Needing to know when a business is opened or closed?
Alexa can help.

Alexa, play classical
music: Whatever type of music your loved one enjoys, ask Alexa to play it. Also, try asking her to play a certain artist
or music similar to a favorite artist to change things up a bit.

Alexa, what year did
the movie “The Wizard of Oz” come out: She’s all about the trivia!

Alexa, tell me a
joke: She’s got a great sense of humor!

Alexa, flatter me:
Just try it J

Alexa, play my
messages: Messages can be sent between Echo devices. There is a blue light
at the top of the device that lets people know when there is a message ready to
play.

Alexa, Ask My Buddy: This
is a free
to enable service that allows a loved one to alert anyone in their personal
network if they need help. Also good for just checking in to let everyone know
they are okay.

Alexa, call 911:
This is important, and does require additional set up. See here.

Finally, Alexa is quite patient. If your loved one experiences
memory issues and is prone to asking the same question again and again, this
does not wear down Alexa. She is fine with answering the same question over and
over again, no matter how many times she is asked.

Author: Jacque Phillips

Jacqueline “Jacque” Phillips RN, BSN, is president and founder of AccuCare Home Health Care of St. Louis. She is a recipient of Small Business Monthly’s “100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business in 2016,” St. Louis Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and many other awards. She graduated with a bachelor degree Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from California State University – Fresno and lives in St. Louis with her family.